Today marks World Mental Health Day. The theme for 2024 is “Mental Health at Work”. Despite progress, disparities remain among member states in implementing mental health initiatives. The EU’s best practices portal showcases several exemplary cases, such as Denmark, which has emerged as a frontrunner with its national campaign “Fighting Stigma at Work: ONE OF US”. Meanwhile, some countries lag behind and face significant challenges, including limited funding and insufficient human resources for mental health services. These disparities underscore the necessity of more coordination across the EU to guarantee that all citizens have access to adequate mental health care.
The new Commission should address these disparities by fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among member states. Von der Leyen’s political guidelines are explicit: “our work on preventive health, in particular for mental health, including at work, will be stepped up”. This focus on mental health is evident in the mission letters issued to the Executive Vice-President for People, Skills and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu, and Commissioner-designate for Health and Animal Welfare, Olivér Várhely. Mînzatu is charged with improving occupational health and safety, ensuring healthier workplaces, and addressing mental health at work, while Várhelyi’s portfolio includes preventive health focusing on youth mental health.
While it is commendable to see mental health in these mission letters, the segmentation of responsibilities across various portfolios raises concerns about potential confusion and fragmentation. Effective communication and collaboration will be essential to prevent diluting initiatives and to ensure a meaningful impact in promoting mental health in the workplace and beyond.
World Mental Health Day represents an opportunity to evaluate mental health practices and prioritise employee well-being. By aligning the EU’s Communication on Mental Health and ensuring continued commitment to addressing mental health, workplaces can become instrumental in driving positive change.
Elizabeth Kuiper is Associate Director and Head of the Social Europe and Well- being programme at the European Policy Centre.
Madda Henry Magbity is a Policy Analyst in the Social Europe and Well-being (SEWB) Programme.
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